Sock lining unit having a built-in bridging element



Aug.'4, 1959 J MELTZER I 2,897,612

socx LINING UNIT HAVING A BUILT-IN BRIDGING ELEMENT Filed May 25, 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CIA-:3.

INVENTOR. JI4CK MELTZEE B; la. &. Q I

- ATTOQ/VE) 8- 1959 J. MELTZER socx LINING UNIT HAVING A BUILT-IN BRIDGING ELEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1958 INVENTORI $46K MELTZER A 77 A/E/ w. VIIII'IIIA SOCK LINING UNIT HAVING A BUILT-IN BRIDGING ELElVIENT Jack Meltzer, Hollywood, Calif.

Application May 23, 1958, Serial No. 737,408

6 Claims. (Cl. 36-585) This invention relates generally to footwear, and has particular reference to the type of shoe in which a resiliently yieldable bridging element extends lengthwise of the shoe directly beneath the wearers foot.

A general object of the invention is to provide an alternative method of achieving the benefits of the construction described and illustrated in my co-pending application, Serial No. 526,001 (now Patent No. 2,844,891, issued July 29, 1958). In a shoe of this kind, the sock lining is formed of two sections, one of which has a narrow part defining the bridging element, the other of which has a transverse slot through which an end of the bridging element extends. Beneath the slot there is an elastic, lying in its entirety below the level of the sock lining, which connects the end of the bridging element to the sole structure. The bridging element normally lies above and spaced from the shank region of the shoe, tending to remain in contact with the sole of the foot, and yielding downwardly against the underlying sole structure whenever the movements of the foot exert downward pressure upon it.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an improved sock lining unit which can be readily secured within a shoe that is otherwise complete, for imparting to the shoe the advantages of a yieldable bridging element of the character mentioned. The new sock lining unit includes a built-in resiliently yieldable bridging element, the rear end of which is concealed within a special pocket and secured to an elastic lying entirely within the pocket and associated in a special manner with a padding element adapted to underlie the heel of the foot. The unit is an article of manufacture complete in itself, and its incorporation within a shoe requires nothing more than the application of appropriate adhesive to its under surface, and its securement by means of this adhesive to the top surface of the sole structure of the shoe after the latter has been otherwise completed. As a result of this ability to apply the improved sock lining unit to the shoe, as a final step in the process of manufacturing the shoe, a clean and fresh and unmarred attractive appearance may be imparted to the shoe.

The elements entering into the improved sock lining unit are relatively simple and inexpensive, and readily formed and assembled. They consist, essentially, of a forward section having a narrowed rear part defining the bridging element, a rearward section having a front edge stitched to the under side of the forward section and provided with a transverse slot, a lining piece secured to the under side of the rear end of the rearward section to define a pocket, a stretchable elastic lying entirely within this pocket, and (preferably) a padding element in the pocket between the elastic and the sock lining.

The structure lends itself readily to variations in style and appearance, and is particularly effective in producing unusual two-tone ornamentation.

Several ways of achieving these general objectives and advantages, and such other objects and benefits as may States atent Ice hereafter be pointed out, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sock lining unit constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a shoe with which this unit has been incorporated;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the elements entering into the construction of the device shown in Figure 1',

Figure 4 is an enlarged and somewhat exaggerated cross-sectional view substantially along the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view substantially along the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the rear end of the rearward section of the sock lining unit;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a modification;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7, showing anothe modification;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figures 6, 7 and 9, illustrating a further modification; and

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view along the line 1212 of Figure 11.

The forward and rearward sections of the sock lining unit are designated 20 and 21 in Figure 3. The forward region of the section 20 has the dimensions and contour of the front part of the sole structure to which the unit is to be secured. The front region 22 of the section 20 terminates at approximately the transverse line 23, .and the section narrows rearwardly thereafter to define the bridging element 24. At its rear end-2S, the bridging element 24 is secured to the front end of an elastic 26.

The rearward section 21 of the sock lining unit has the dimensions and contours, throughout its extent,,of the underlying sole structure to which it is to be attached. The section 21 has a transverse front edge 27 which is stitched, as at 19, to the under side of the section 21 along the transverse line 23. The rear end of the section 21 (designated 28) has the rounded contour of the heel region of the shoe. lust forwardly of the area 28 the section 21 is provided with the transverse slot 29.

Underlying the area 28 in the finished assembly is a lining piece 30 having a transverse front edge 31. Also entering into the assembly is a padding element 32, whose thickness gradually diminishes toward the edges, which are carefully skived.

When the'parts are assembled, the rear end ofthe bridging element 24 is inserted downwardly through the transverse slot 29, and the padding element 32 is interposed between the elastic 26 and the area 28 of the sock lining section 21. The lining piece 30 is then applied, and is marginally secured by stitches 33. These stitches extend also through the thinned edges of the padding element 32, and through the rear end of the elastic 26 (see Fig. 5). The front edge 31 of the lining piece 30 is secured by stitches 34 to the sock lining section 21, along the forward margin of the slot 29. This securement of the lining piece 30 forms a pocket beneath the rear end 28 of the sock lining, within which the elastic 26 is confined at all times.

For illustrative purposes I have shown a simplified shoe structure with which the sock lining unit is associated. The shoe depicted at 35 comprises an abbreviated upper 36 in the vamp region, a heel 37, and an insole structure 38. The usual shank stiffener may be associated with the insole 38, and the heel 37 may be held in position by fasteners of usual character. These details have not been illustrated, since the specific nature of the article of footwear does not affect the applicability to it of the presentimproved'sock liningunit. The connection of the parts, which is performed preferably as the final step of the shoe manufacturing procedure, is brought about by applying suitable adhesive to the under surfa'ce of the unit shown in Figure 1, then applying the unit in properly stretched condition to'the underlying insolestructure 38. By holding the parts together; by proper pressure conditions, they becomepermanently joined in the relationship shown in Figures 2 and 5.

For'ornamental purposes, to conform the appearance of the sock lining at the front of the shoe to the appearance at the rearend, a marginal dummy stitching 39 may be applied to the front region 22' of the sock lining section 20.

Desirable'two-tone effects canbe'produced in the manner shown in Figures 7-12 In Figure'7' the sock lining section 40is provided with-the transverse slot 41, and a separate element 42' of contrasting material is secured to the section 40 by stitches 43 extending along the rearward margin of the slot 41. The element 42 completely overlies'the' rear end'of'thesection 40, and the appearance of the finished unit is enhanced if this covered-over rear end is slightly reduced in dimensions, as indicated in Figure 7. If desired, this entire rear end of the section 40 may be cut away, rearwardly of the stitches 43.

In Figures 7 and 8, the forward edge of the separate element 42i is turned back so that the stitches 43 are concealed. In Figures 9 and a construction is shown in which this fold-back is omitted. The rear sock lining section 44 is provided with the transverse slot 45, and the separate contrasting element 46 is secured by stitches 47 along the rearward margin of the slot '45. The manner in: which the rear end area of the section 44' may be reduced in dimensions is clearly represented at 18 in Figure 9;

An unusual ornamental effect may be produced as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The rearward sock lining section 48 is provided with the transverse slot.49, and the separate contrasting element 50 is secured by stitches 51 along the rearward margin of the slot 49. The element 50 is provided with lateral extensions which project forwardly and then toward each other as indicated at 52,

ultimately underlying the bridging element (not shown in Figures 11 and 12). The projections 52 may be stitched as at'53 to the forward margin of the slot 49.

It will be understood that each of the modifications illustrated in Figures 7, 9 and 11 is a substitute for the single-element construction shown in Figures l-6, and that in each case the completion of'the unit involves the assembly and mutual attachment of the underlying lining piece, the enclosed'elastic, and (preferably) and padding element, as hereinbefore described in connection with Figure 4.

It is also: to be understood that many of the details herein described and illustrated may be modified by those skilled in the art, without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as eirpressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sock lining unit for securement within a shoe and having a built-in resiliently yieldable bridging element, said unit comprising forward and rearward sections, the forward section having'a narrowed rear part defining the bridging'element, the rearward section having a front edge stitched to the underside of the forward section along a transverse line at the front end of said bridging element, said rearward section having a transverse slot, a lining piece underlying and secured marginally to the rear end ofsaid'rearward section to define a pocket on the underside of the latter, said bridging element passing rearwardly through said slot into said pocket, and a stretachable elastic lying entirely within said pocket and secured at one end to the rear edge of said rearward section and at the other end to the rear edge of said bridging element.

2. A sock lining unit as defined in claim 1, there being a soft padding element in said pocket between said elastic and said rearward section.

3. A socklining unit as defined in claim 1, said lining piece being secured by stitches which also extend through and'secure said elastic to the rear edge of said rearward section.

4. A sock lining unit as defined in claim 1, said rearward section including a separate element of contrasting material in the region rearward of said slot, said element being secured'by stitches adjacent to said slot along the rearward margin of the latter.

5. A sock lining unit as defined in claim 1, said rearward section including a separate element of contrasting material'in the region rearward of said slot, said element having its forward edge secured adjacent to said slot and having lateral extensions projecting forwardly and then toward each other to underlie the bridging element.

6'. A sock lining unit as defined in claim 1, the front edge of the lining piece being secured to the rearward section along the forward margin of said slot.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,024,729 Gustin Dec. 17, 1935 2,707,342 Maccarone May 3, 1955 2,761,225 Lo Presti Sept. 4, 1956 2,776,503 Maccarone Jan. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 701,936 Great Britain I an. 6, 1954 1,118,264 France Mar. 12, 1956 1,124,168 France June 25, 1956 1,140,157 France Feb. 25, 1957 

